look at me, i'm the wound you tried to hide

[promittere]

ANDANTE ALLA WANING CRESCENT

Another day dawns for the Sage's wizards. It's been a month, now, since arriving in this world and being given a task nobody seems to fully understand—though after the jobs the Southern and Central wizards have taken on, it seems like it might just be possible after all.

And it seems like there's another task for the wizards, from the Eastern nation. However, unlike the other requests the Sage has been fielding, this task is far too big for five wizards alone. This is a task everyone will need to help tackle, whether they like it or not. Those that aren't particularly altruistic will still be whisked together by Tatara and Lazuli both, and they may still find the journey...illuminating. Answers to what happened to the original wizards may be just within reach.

Traveling via the elevator at the manor is familiar to some of you, at least, Lazuli setting a mana stone into the control not a surprise in a the slightest. The fact all of you can, somehow, fit in the elevator comfortably may be a surprise, but it's best not to dwell on it too much. You'll be staying at the City of Rain, Lazuli tells you with the air of someone reading you a court sentence, but you've been tasked with clearing up the site of some sort of disaster. He doesn't have much information beyond that—a fact that seems to greatly annoy him—and he warns you not to break any of the City of Rain's laws well before you're out of the elevator.

Which that shouldn't be too difficult, right? Right...?

Perhaps not, as the rules of the city are extreme. There are certain areas which forbid socialization and talking entirely, some areas where only talking to strangers is forbidden, only a handful of businesses allow chatter of any sort, and the list goes on. The most pressing law of all, though, is very simple: no use of any sort of magic within city limits. Do your best to follow the rules because breaking them will result in an arrest, and do you really want Lazuli and Tatara bailing you out? With the rules laid out and lodging sorted, Lazuli ushers you to the site you're tasked with dealing with. You will have downtime to explore the city, though, as it's expected to take several days to clear things up.

The site is a terrible, terrible mess. In what must have once been a peaceful patch of wilderness, there now sits a terrible gouge in the earth, several meters deep and twice as wide across, hollowed by what must have been a powerful force. The dirt is gray and sandy, dead in the manner the Southern wizards will recognize. Plants on the edges of the crater are dry and withered and splintered and broken. Permeating the air is a lingering dread, one both Southern and Central wizards will immediately recognize...

But it is clear now, now that your magic is considerably stronger, that the spirits are agitated by the disturbance in the fabric of magic. Dark clouds hang low over the site, and low thunder rumbles in the constant threat of a storm that will never come. The spirits' agitation, coupled with the dread hanging in the air, will feel uncomfortable, and perhaps leave the more sensitive of the bunch feeling on edge. This is not something that can will resolve on its own, so your most important task is to calm the spirits. That means doing the things they like: playing music, dancing, praying, telling stories, wearing fanciful and whimsical clothes to soothe their temperaments.

Your second most important task is to clear out monsters. The unusual energy in the air is attractive to beasts magical in nature—they slink out of their hiding places in the deep wilderness to the area, and their presence is threatening the humans who regularly use the nearby routes for trade and to commute. Kill them, take their mana stones for yourself. Win-win.

The third task is general clean-up. Remove the dead plants from the earth, remove the broken trees and any natural debris that might prove to be a hindrance. Characters are more than welcome to search inside the crater for any hint or clue as to what might have caused this strange explosion, but they'll find the site picked clean, earth having fallen into cavities where there might have been larger objects present at one point...like someone was here to clear out any evidence.

JOB BOARD

Reinforcement. Peace in Granvelle Castle has been restored. A liveliness and energy has returned to the castle and the surrounding parts of the city that hasn't been seen in nearly a month. Thank your Central friends for their hard work!

Their issues aren't quite resolved, however. The castle is asking for help in creating and then reinforcing a magical barrier around the castle. The barrier is a bit bigger than what one wizard alone is capable of at this point, so band together to create and reinforce what parts you can. Perhaps it's not a bad idea to use your own hair or blood as a conduit.

The type of barrier is specific, however—they want one that masks magical signatures. If you step inside, you'll feel a faint, but powerful presence within... What are they guarding?

Recycling. The Eastern country is known for its expertise in all things mechanical, particularly when it comes to clockwork. While not as bombastic or flashy as Western technology, the use of magic and mana stones being deeply frowned upon and rejected, Eastern artisans can create truly fantastical things just with gears and cogs and a bit of know-how... But, of course, sometimes it's better to scrap something and create something new than let the old items waste away, so some Eastern craftsman have asked for help gathering clockwork automatons and other creations in order to melt it all back down. Some of them seem a bit nervous and harried, but it's an easy enough job to scrap automatons and cart junk around.

Monster hunting. The few settlements in the North have been sending in frantic request after frantic request. There has been a disturbing increase in monster activity in the North, and the native Northern wizards are as unreliable as ever. They need your help in thinning the numbers, and that's all they really ask for—you can keep all the mana stones you earn.

For those of you who haven't been to the North yet, the weather is harsh, no matter the season. Protection on oneself to survive the negative degrees is crucial; make sure your magic is up to snuff enough to keep yourself at least room temperature. And using your magic to battle on top of that? This isn't going to be an easy job, not at your level. Be cautious, and good luck.

Mana areas & amulets. You've been here for a month now, and living in an unfamiliar place, alongside unfamiliar people, using unfamiliar magic must be wearing you down. Isn't it? In that case, it's time for the last piece of your wizardhood puzzle: your mana area.

Mana areas are spots where wizards feel most at peace with themselves, most whole, and a place where they can refill on the emotional load they've been chipping away at for their magic. It can be a specific location, or a conditional circumstance. Find more detail on the magic page. Your task—given to you by your sage and your mentor—is to traverse the continent, find your mana area, and recharge your batteries, so to speak. While there, make an amulet to take back with you, like a portable battery.

WANDERER TASKS

Listen to the spirits.

You've been here long enough that it's time to see if you can actually communicate with the spirits who've laid claim on you and have been empowering your spells. Try your listen and see if you can hear what they have to say to you.

OOC Note: For those attempting this task, ping one of the mods and roll a dice! Based on the dice roll, your character will get a little tidbit from the spirits... Or they might not hear anything yet, but they can always dedicate themselves to their studies and try again after leveling up!

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Don't make promises.

If you've made a promise, don't break it.

If you break a promise, you'll lose your magic. And I don't know if I can help you anymore or send you home if that happens. I'm sorry this is so late. But please...be careful.

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your third event! Everyone's lasted a month, congratulations! Keep working on your magic, keep forging those bonds.
🌙 As your characters settle into the world, they might find themselves irresistibly drawn to crowds, to music, to dancing. It's hard to resist the allure of a gathering, and it's hard to keep yourself from swaying to music when it fills your ears, no matter what sort of person you used to be. You're changing...
🌙 As we enter the second month, we are announcing a deadline for finding your pairs. This will be Friday, June 14 at 11:59 PM EDT. Remember, you may submit a guess at any time, and there is no penalty for getting a guess wrong, so long as you have a thread to back up your guess and consent from your partner. The pair page is here.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting on this post, as not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Next up for missions is East. Let's hope they don't have to talk to anyone for this one.

» NAVIGATION

Comments

cocoa voice: lock him up forever officer

[impacter]

[It's clear to Solomon how much effort that Bruno burns through in their panicked retreat, pulling insistently, guiding his unfocused actions. So he doesn't fight, trying to move where Bruno directs, trying to get control of the weakness in his legs and the sickness that rises as his pain continues, dotting the edges of his vision with black.

His second hand joins his first, jaw so tense and face going pale with effort. But clouded eyes see where Bruno is trying to drag them. And though he's nearly choking on every sharpened inhale through the nose, his eyes sharpen with desperation. Move, move move move move.

It's a shame that the soldiers are moving faster, and that more have passed by the street to notice the commotion.]

throw away the keys?

[fallingsand]

[ Only a little further, Bruno keeps telling himself, but that's him trying to fool himself into them being fine, them getting away, oh god he's breaking laws and running from cops, how did this happen? He can feel bad about it later, though!

Unfortunately for the two, rounding the next corner ahead of them is a pair of officers, although the surprise they show at seeing them running towards them, one with fire lighting up his chest, gives Bruno a chance to steer Solomon into an alleyway on a whim sharply. That, naturally, feels even more illegal, since now they're 100% acting like criminals here, but... uh... don't think about it. He won't think about it. ]

solomon persists nonetheless :pensive:

[impacter]

["Was that magic??"

"Intercept them!"

"Round, round the other way!"

Solomon thankfully doesn't stumble too hard at the sudden change of direction (12), but the narrower space makes the light from his chest that much easier to track them. Even with what heartiness their wizard status brings, Solomon also only has so much to give. There's no use harming innocents, and the more they run, the worse this looks...]

B... B-Bruno... [Rough, forced out between breaths. They've already broken the law by now, and he doesn't have the capacity to think through another plan.]

I think... we may b... be in a little o-over our heads...

[fallingsand]

Wh-what if we fly away?! I can... maybe we can both fit on... on my broom and...

[ Yeah, the law is thoroughly and truly broken at this point. Bruno isn't going to bother whispering anymore. That would be the last idea that he'll have about their escape, however, as even before he can think to stop and try bringing his broom to him, a pair of soldiers appear at the opposite end of the alley.

They're blocked at both ends now.

Bruno staggers to a stop and pulls Solomon closer, into both arms now, as though that might somehow defend the poor guy from whatever is coming for them. ]

...oh no...

[impacter]

[what a nice time for a hug :)

His eyes drift over Bruno's shoulder as he's drawn into the Southern wizard's arms like an injured child. Stuck going forward, stuck back, no time to go up...

He presses his forehead to Bruno's shoulder with a pained, thick swallow, prying his tensed fingers open to press his hands solidly against the other man's arm and chest in some vain attempt to ground him.]

C... calm down. Cooperate. An incident w... won't h-help from h--

Ghh...

[God, he can't take much more of this. The fire flares and he crumples further against Bruno. One of the soldiers is already shouting, advancing -- magic, magic, stop this at once.]

[fallingsand]

[ pained and terrified old man hugs in a time of need (:

That's right. There's no time to go up... and Bruno won't try. Cooperate, Solomon tells him, and while he wants to yell about how stupid the rules of this city are, he pushes that urge down. It's better not to make this worse. Instead, he'll hold Solomon close as the soldiers approach, shouting as they are. ]

He... he isn't doing it on purpose! Please, he's hurt! We... we didn't mean to... really...

[impacter]

[The soldiers are, unfortunately, not having any of it. Their instructions are blunt and minimal now that the two of them are cornered, a firm grasp to Bruno from one end while trying to separate him from Solomon from the other. Comply. Come peacefully. Their posture alone shows they can and will escalate this if they must.]

Bruno... khhk-- [Forced around, arms behind him. The cuffs are coming out for Bruno as well, a curt request for him to put his hands behind his back.] -- Let them be. They've.... made up th... their minds...

[Solomon wobbles against the guard's grip even as one of his hands is firmly held up, a silent show to the other guards of the crest on his exposed skin. Everybody disliked that, apparently.

smh wizards :\

After a quick glance at Bruno and finding no visible mark, one of the guards barks at Bruno, asking if he's also a wizard.]

[fallingsand]

[ Bruno's reluctant to let them separate the two but he surrenders completely when it's clear Solomon won't — and can't, really — resist. They're parted and that harsh question is asked. It makes him cringe, realizing suddenly that, no, this world isn't any better than home after all. The South may love wizards, but here? Not here, apparently.

Still, he gives a nod to answer the question as he's cuffed. He is a wizard. He could have shaken his head, claimed that he wasn't, but it feels like lying would only make things even worse at this point. ]

(this will have 3 responses)(sort of)(you'll see what i'm doing in a second)

[impacter]

["Of course", their eyes seem to say. "Of course you are."

It's an oddly silent walk to the prison. The guards aren't up for small talk, and that includes some uncomfortable looks at the sorcerer who is still very much on fire. Only a few minutes after they're lead off, Solomon lets out a choking sound as the fire dissipates just as suddenly as it had arrived, stumbling backwards against his escort. But all they receive is another curt warning to watch their words.

Down into the jail they go. With the clang of keys, a cell door opens, and Bruno is promptly led inside by himself, his cuffs removed so long as he stays compliant. Across the way from his cell, Solomon undergoes the same, shaking as he lowers to his hands and knees against the floor.

Well. This isn't how he wanted to spend his Tuesday.]

You okay over there, Bruno?

[fallingsand]

[ Look, he still can't believe this. He's being arrested? He's being arrested! He's in jail! Jail! Of all the people who got dragged here to be wizards, no one would have bet on him being the one to go to jail in this place, right? Right?! Oh, he sure hopes there wasn't a betting pool... what if there was... no, there wasn't, surely?

Uh, anyway, once he's left in his own cell, Bruno steps up to the bars and peers through them towards Solomon's. ]

I... no? No, of course not, but! But that doesn't matter, what about you?! A-are you still on fire? What was that?!

[impacter]

[Meanwhile: Solomon is just glad this jail is dry and above the ground! Very nice. It's been a while.

He bonelessly flops over onto his side like an exhausted dog, still coated in sweat as his palm presses into the aching spot on his chest. But he shakes his head.]

No... no, whatever it was, it stopped while they were taking us over here. A curse, maybe, but... I can't sense another wizard's magic on me.

Did you see anything? I was, um... really, really distracted, actually.

[fallingsand]

A curse? No? I didn't see anyone or... or any wizard there besides, y'know, me, and it sure wasn't me.

[ He's a healer, man, not a curse... r... curser. Is that a word? Is it? He doesn't even know. ]

Everyone else was minding their own business and you just fell over suddenly.

[impacter]

Mm. I wonder if it's something I interacted with, then...

[His laugh is light, but a little humorless. Damn, he feels a little stupid.]

Shame on me if that's the case. I really should be catching those sorts of enchantments by now.

[fallingsand]

What? An enchantment? Where would you even get something that's enchanted?

[ Bruno has barely interacted with the items that have shown up in his room apart from the lucky rabbit's foot. That one? He has it in his pocket but wow, it sure didn't help here, now did it? ]

[impacter]

Maybe one of the items that keep magically arriving in our rooms... though, honestly, I've lost track at this point.

[He sighs, rolling over onto his back and combing his fingers through his hair.]

I haven't been back to my own room for very long since our mission started, though. Only long enough to grab a couple of books and some things to write with.

(later on, for akira)

[impacter]

[Because for some reason Akira cannot resist the siren song of Crime.]

[jokey]

[Breaking and entering has so many practical applications. Akira never expected he'd need to stealth his way into a building ever again, much less in the real world, but here he is breaking into a prison as opposed to out of it.

The ceiling creaks. Something within shuffles and scrapes. A few moments later, a familiar shock of curly black hair pops out from a vent in the ceiling and scans the periphery for guards. During this time of day, security should be minimal enough that he can talk to the captives unimpeded. Speaking of which...]

...Oh. There you guys are. Well, that was easy.

[Got it in one! Repelling down from a rope in the ceiling, Akira waves. Hey dads. How we feeling?]

[impacter]

[Solomon's been out cold for a while now, flat on his back in the bed on the far end of the cell. The rattling noises get him to finally stir, and when he turns his head to squint out the bars, a rope is dropping down from the ceiling, and--]

...

Akira?

[Yeah, yeah that's definitely Akira. How in the world...

He winces in discomfort as he rolls himself over to try and get a better look.]

Here I thought thievery was your style, not a jail visitation.

[fallingsand]

[ What in the world is—

Bruno has been spending much of the time pacing and being nervous overall, but in silence to allow Solomon to rest undisturbed. The ceiling making a noise and the rope appearing, however, gives him a start. ]

Akira?! [ Bruno whisper-shouts. He isn't going to actual-shout. That would be bad and he has enough wisdom to not do that if nothing else. ] Wh... what are you doing? You have to go! What if they catch you?!

[jokey]

[...Man, they both look like differing degrees of hell, but that's to be expected. No one looks happy and healthy behind bars.

Akira dusts himself off and pockets his hands, looking from Bruno to Solomon.]

What can I say? I'm a man of many talents. Besides, I really couldn't care less if they catch me.

[Maybe he should. Normally, he would. Maybe he deserves a little time in the slammer after what he did.]

What did you guys do to get locked up? I don't know about Solomon, but Bruno doesn't strike me as the law-breaking sort.

[impacter]

[It's a relief to see him, whole and back to normal. But there's something off about how blasé he is. This is supposed to be a point of pride for him, isn't it?

...

Solomon's smile is tired as he rests back on the bed, closing his eyes.]

You would be exactly right. Bruno did nothing wrong. You can consider him an accomplice in escape.

(even later, for tatara/lazuli)

[impacter]

[Also known as: mom and other mom post bail.]

[meanspirited]

[When he gets the alert, he feels nothing but... immeasurable disappointment. He's sure they'll have some reason or excuse for getting arrested, but really? Bruno and Solomon? He thought they, of all people, would manage to follow the rules.

He stands across the bars from them, arms crossed over his chest.]

What sort of trouble did you get yourselves into?

[impacter]

[Solomon has just been taking the time to catch up on his sleep despite Being On Fire earlier, so really this is an unexpected win for him. Shame about the argument with the ceiling teenager.

He's still laid out on the bed when Wanderer strolls in, Solomon's cell on one side and Bruno on the other.

He waves.]

Hello, little sparrow! Did you know the guards don't take kindly to screaming in pain?

[fallingsand]

[ See? This is why Bruno had sent Akira to go and get Tatara instead. He had hoped to see Nice Mom coming to bail them out, not Mean Mom. Regardless, he visibly wilts under Wanderer's judgment. ]

Something set Solomon on fire. He couldn't help it.